Latin School of Chicago - Sigillum Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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C. L. S. Born L. PARSONS WARREN L. Parsons Warren, '03, VVilliams ,O7, keenly interested in alumni activity of the school, engaged in the Insurance business. Fifty years ago, the Chicago Latin School-it had no such exalted name in those days-boasted, among its members, only a few choice souls whose parents envisioned, perhaps, the place it was to make for itself in the development of secondary-school training in this district. It was soon destined to occupy a prominent place in the then developing residence district of the North Side. There must have been a certain amount of prophetic vision in the decision of the founders. To their insistence that an obvious need be met in the best Way possible are all of us later products of the School indebted for the splendid organization Which, this year, under the able guidance of an able Headmaster, is celebrating fifty years of a very fruitful life in the community. In its first days, history records that it was really no more than a small group of boys, carefully selected, meeting in a private home, and presided over by that rare personality, Mabel Slade Vickery. Her effectual ministrations over the destinies of that first group who came to her soon created a demand for expansion in space and increase in teaching personnel, and resulted in the calling, from the East, of Mr. Robert Peck Bates. Under his collaboration with Miss Vickery the class soon shuffled off its physical restraints necessarily inherent in a ball-room Ca private one, at thatj, and blossoming forth as an independent organization. Shortly, this Chicago Latin School was born. In 1894, it found quarters on Division Street, in What had been a private home. Its location changed on three occasions during the period before the building at the alley east of State Street, was erected. There it pursued the even and successful tenor of its way, building intellect and character, but little disturbed by com- petition offered by the University School at Dearborn and Elm Streets, and the Cobb School, at Ritchie Court fthen called Placej and Goethe Street. In the nine years from 1894 to IQO3, the en- rollment increased from I2 to 275, its graduates had gone out to the colleges and universities, and everywhere the School name stood for the best in secondary education, along with those finer things, the intangibles Without which scholastic attainments by them-- selves stand for so very little. Proof in the form of names of eminent citizens could readily be adduced-but these are Words about an institution, and not its off-spring!

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SIGILLUM outfit our teams and gave unstintingly of his time to extend the interest in all fields of athletics. Parents of the school are linked directly to the student activities, both academic and extra-curricular, through the media of our parents, groups. I take this occasion to express my sincere appreci- ation of the co-operation received from this group which has been so ably headed by Mrs. Augustus K. Maxwell and Mrs. William T. Alden. The suggestions of this group have been most helpful. In turning to the faculty, it is difficult not to over-stress my appreciation of the fine spirit evidenced and the loyal co-operation given by the entire group. A school is often considered as strong as its faculty and it is with great pride that we point to the fact that Mr. Thomas J. Bosworth and Mr. P. L. Whiting have each given thirty-five years of service. Recently copies of the Sigillum have been dedicated to these men and it is needless to say that their efforts have been appreciated. And now, a few words of interest concerning that important factor of our school, i.e., the pupils or student body. I would like to list the five Senior Prefects and pay tribute to their great assistance. Our first able leader in 1933 was Thomas F. Geraghty, Jr. and he has been followed by: Gordon Spens, Robert Antonsen, Charles Ford, and Edward Bennan. In addition to the usual athletic activities and annual Cvym. night, students have been busy with the following student activities: Student Council, student publications, i.e., News, Folio and Sigillum, the Glee Club, Orchestra, Debating, Dramatic Club, School Dances, and Boy Scout work. At this time it is very essential that we take notice of the outstanding work done this year on the school publication by Conrad Seipp, our editor of the Sigillum. He has labored untiringly in making this book a fitting testimonial to the goth Anniversary of the School. In closing I wish to thank the members of our present Board of Trustees for their assistance in raising an Anniversary Fund at this time. This is very essential to the progress of the school and means that more people will take a financial interest as time goes on. I hope that the members of the class of 1938 will feel that they will always find a hearty welcome at our school and I trust they will take an active part in our alumni association. Please remember that you are representatives of our school. I shall watch your progress with the greatest of interest and Wish you the best of success in your new surroundings.

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SIGILLUM In closing, would an observation be in order? There are, no doubt, many weaknesses inherent in our present systems of edu- cation, and educators themselves are at great variance of opinion as to how best to correct the most glaring ones. Over one, however, there is almost perfect unanimity: namely, that the best educational results always come about from extended continuity of attendance at the same school for the longest possible period. Frequent school changes work injustices on teacher and pupil alike, and the reasons are all too obvious. If, therefore, this unanimity be founded on no more than common sense, how would you honestly answer the question, What has any other school to offer that you can't get at Chicago Latin? Reflections lln Education ADD1soN GARDNER Addison L. Gardner, Jr., '13, Harvard ,I7, former editor of Folio and Sigillum, outstanding member of his class, at present a member of a law firm. N invitation to contribute to 'cThe Sigilluml' on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Chicago Latin School amounts to a command and should be answered, as Mr. Justice Holmes remarked, 'con the wings of the wind. As I reminisce over the two very happy years that I spent at C. L. S. Qwith the IQI3 volume of The Sigillumn in my lap opened to the class prophecy prepared by Bob Walkerl, I am driven to two conclusions: First, that the faculty were much better than we deserved, and, second, that despite Bobls glowing picture of our several futures, we have turned out a pretty ordinary lot. Perhaps the very fact that the class of IQI3 has survived so many world calamities, is a sufficient tribute to the endurance, at least, with which we were endowed in our youth and through our secondary school training. In any event, in our defense sometime in the future, I trust the historian will point out that our generation, as the generation now beginning to take over responsibilities and power, is faced with social, political and economic problems and an evolution of legal concepts more far-reaching and more difficult than have had to be met by any other generation of Anglo-Saxon society since the rise of Cromwell.